Dublin City Council recently approved the Dublin Economic Development Corporation budget including money for grants, administration expenses and new partnership project between the city and the EDC.
EDC Executive Director Noah Cullis presented the budget at the Monday, Sept. 8 council meeting. The budget had already been approved by the Dublin EDC board at its Aug. 26 meeting, but is required to be approved by council since EDC is funded through sales tax dollars.
According to documents provided by the EDC, currently the EDC has $241,344.44 in reserves and is projecting to receive $231,736 in sales tax dollars for Fiscal Year 2025-26, bringing an asset and projected revenue total to $473,060.44.
A portion of that is administrative and payroll expenses totaling $93,081.60.
Under administrative expenses, the following line items are included: board/ community work sessions ($1,000), computer software/ hardware and maintenance/ website ($2,000), newspaper postings ($700), office equipment/supplies ($2,000), professional registrations/ training/travel ($5,500), subscriptions/memberships ($3,000), office rent/internet/ utility ($17,000), mobile phone (in lieu of a land line) ($2,500). Total administrative expenses are $33,700. Payroll is $50,000 with payroll services of $9,381.60.
Grants and other program expenses in the EDC budget include $10,000 for new single-family housing grants, $99,000 for commercial building façade and infrastructure grants, $123,000 for community improvement grants, $19,000 in EDC/ City of Dublin partnership grant, $15,000 abandoned/ substandard building grant and $25,000 for community improvement event grants for a programs/grant total of $291,000. The EDC has a project reserve amount of $88,000 in case more grant money is needed.
During the council meeting, two public comments were issued by business owners Rod McNeal and Deneen Tiemann.
“What’s the mission of the EDC and are we seeing that mission fulfilled?” McNeal asked.
McNeal pointed out several items that he considered to be mismanagement of funds including giving $7,500 to a business that never opened its doors, giving $7,000 to a board member whose business closed within 60 days, and the EDC director receiving a midterm raise without council approval.
“We pay $17,000 a year in office rent, we budget $5,500 for training,” he said. “Our entire police department, EMS department and public works department is not that much and they make life and death decisions.”
McNeal said that the entire city was cutting budget items and the EDC was not.
“What new business has been brought to Dublin? You’ve gotten zero return on your investment,” McNeal added. “Send the budget back to the EDC board and demand they cut waste.”
Tiemann also spoke about her experiences with the EDC stating she had turned things in before the new EDC director for grants, and never received any kind of follow through.
“I would not recognize them if they came into my building because they have not reached out in any way,” she said.
Tiemann said the dollar position she was told came along with this position was astounding.
“We are Dublin, we are a little town. What are we doing? That’s way too much money,” she said.
Cullis said during the council’s meeting that the EDC budget had been approved and was done in conjunction with two work sessions done by the board.
“We appreciate the support and the support of the business community,” he said.
Councilmember Nancy Williams said that she had some questions about the budget.
Williams questioned that with it being almost $100,000 to office an EDC director [between salary and office expenses] she did not understand why there was such an issue moving to a free space in City Hall.
Cullis said the decision for where to keep the office is made by his president [Paul Bradberry] and his board of directors.
Cullis explained that part of his job was to connect with other EDCs for training and that expense had been cut from $3,000 to $2,000 and the payroll expense is for Boucher & Smart who handles accounting for the EDC. He also stated the EDC has no landline so the cellphone acted as that service for the EDC. He also said privacy is needed when connecting with prospective business owners and developers.
Cullis explained during the budget process he put an initial budget together and then his board revised it giving him direction on what to cut and what to increase in grants and projects.
Williams also questioned why an open position on the EDC board has not yet been filled when there have been four applicants.
Cullis explained that at the last EDC meeting a closed executive session was needed to discuss the candidates and there was not one on the agenda. A special meeting was called for Sept. 16.
“It has taken a little longer than we thought it would,” Cullis said.
Williams also questioned Cullis on why there had been $241,334.44 in their savings account for a year when the city had so many needs.
“We need a pavilion, we need a sign downtown that works to advertise our businesses,” she said.
Cullis explained the $473,060.44 in their budget was projected, since it is based off estimated sales tax for the year.
“I cannot guarantee that’s how much we will have but we have to have a projection to work with,” he said.
“I just see a lot of needs in our community that can be filled with money that isn’t being used,” Williams said.
City Councilmember Sammy Moore who also is appointed to sit on the EDC board said simply, “nobody has asked.”
Cullis said there had been discussions with the city about the depot and there are ideas there, but no plan had been put in place yet.
“We have earmarked around $50,000 roughly just to go along with the $38,000 that has been sitting there for several years for the depot,” Moore said. “The ultimate goal would be for the EDC to be housed in there. We just have to get the work done.”
Moore clarified that money from the EDC has to meet specific criteria and cannot be used by the city, just for every day expenses of running the city.
“The objective that the board has given Noah is get to work, that money is not doing any good just sitting there. If something comes up, like the depot, and we can help, use the money,” Moore said.
“If a business wants to scrutinize if the EDC is doing anything to help them, but they’ve never been to the meeting, I don’t know what to do,” Moore said. “Or if you want to question a business that is going out of business, and they ask for a grant for the building, and there is a grant that meets state criteria for the building, you can’t say ‘No, you’re closing your business. You don’t qualify for a building grant.’ Noah has a job to do and the EDC oversees him.”
Williams said she would still like to see the EDC moved into city hall and that would increase space for board meetings for the public because there is simply not enough room for everyone in the Blackjack Office Center board room.
Councilmember Bo Kabala asked Cullis if he thought guidelines he had in place or goals he had in place were sufficient. Cullis answered not yet as the EDC is beginning to work towards strategic planning to go along with a comprehensive plan for the city.
“It’s not personal, but I think you’ve been in your position over a year, not one new business has been brought in through the EDC, there are businesses in town who don’t know who you are. I think at the most your job should be a part-time job, the EDC should be moved over here into this free space. I think it would be a lot more productive,” Williams said.
The EDC’s budget was approved 3 to 1 with Williams in opposition.